First dinosaur remains from Ireland

Several specimens from the Lias Group (Lower Jurassic) of Northern Ireland have been suspected as dinosaurian in origin. Bone histology and morphology demonstrates that two these, both same locality Co. Antrim, demonstrably are dinosaurs. We interpret one proximal end left femur a basal thyreophoran ornithischian, tentatively assign it to cf. Scelidosaurus. The other is part tibia an indeterminate neotheropod, perhaps member averostran-line similar Sarcosaurus, or megalosauroid. These first dinosaur remains reported anywhere some most westerly Europe, they among only small number dinosaurs known Hettangian Stage. Two additional no longer considered be surangular mandible fragment large marine reptile, ichthyosaur pliosaur; polygonal Paleocene basalt.